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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL — FEBRUARY 12, 2024 4 City Administrator Perrault explained it was his understanding a specific use, such as a large big box, could be considered within the AUAR and Kimley Horn could then complete the plans with one or two alternatives. He did not believe intersections outside of the AUAR would be completed within this plan but could possibly be done for an additional fee. Councilmember Holden commented that the County now has a traffic study and has had this document since November. She stated the County may be changing their assumptions based on the raw data from this study. She recommended the City complete their own traffic study in order to better inform the residents in Arden Hills. Councilmember Monson supported the City having a big box scenario included within the AUAR. Councilmember Fabel indicated the City was several years away from knowing who might occupy the property on Rice Creek Commons, what their use may be, or how intense the traffic would be. He explained the AUAR would accommodate the generally anticipated uses for this development. He did not support the City spending additional money on a big box scenario and recommended the AUAR be approved as proposed. Mayor Grant stated in looking at this, after speaking with Alatus, Bob Lux has consistently stated he wants the retail component to be successful. He explained this means there would have to be large traffic counts driving through Rice Creek Commons, which may mean a large box retailer such as Costco may be located on the site. He was of the opinion it would benefit the City to run an AUAR scenario taking into consideration a big box retailer on the site. He indicated not including a big box retailer at all, would be an oversight. He stated the residents on Hamline, Lexington, County Road 96 and Old 10 would be seeing large increases in traffic and he believed the City owed it to these residents to have the potential traffic patterns studied. Councilmember Rousseau commented there were a lot of variables to consider, such as a big box and potential senior housing at North Heights. She questioned what the gap of data was between the AUAR and the traffic study that had already been completed by the County. Mayor Grant stated it made sense to study the potential scenarios that would be located on the development and how the surrounding traffic would be impacted. He explained Alatus has made it very clear that they want a successful retail development within Rice Creek Commons, which may include a traffic retailer. He believed it was in the City's best interests to include this as an alternative within the AUAR. Councilmember Holden reported the City has not seen the County's traffic study, which was concerning to her. She stated it would be difficult for the City to draw any conclusions from this information until it was presented to the City. She commented further on how Bob Lux has stated Costco wants to be located within this development. Councilmember Monson explained the AUAR would study the property and surrounding intersections. She noted the County's study only studied County Road 96. She indicated Costco would be a large traffic generator and she believed it would be smart to have a high traffic retailer within the development. She supported the AUAR having a big box scenario to assist with better planning for the development.